Apparatus for handling materials



June 5, 1928. 1,672,404

D. s. BAKER 'APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATERIALS Original Filed June 27, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR D. S. BAKER APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATERIALS June 5, 1928. 1,672,404

Original File June 2'7, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 49 5 INVENTOR J0 I 35 gi 6, 8%.

' ATTOREEY E June 5, 1928. 1,672,404

D. s. BAKER APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATERIALS Original Filed June 27, 1923 .S-Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTOR s. 64AM Patented June 5, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID S. BAKER, OF GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT. I I

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING MATERIALS.

Substitute for application Serial No. 647,964, filed June 27, 1923, and in Canada December 10, 1924.

' v i This application filed November 24, 1926. Serial No. 150,443.

. This invention relates to apparatus for handling materials and aims to facilitate the movementof materials and to provide for the treatment of r n ategialsfduring movement.

The present application relates to the same invention as that described in my vcoending application filed June 27, 1923, erial No. 647,964, for which the present application is a substitute.

In subjecting a material to drying or other treatment, it is desirable that separate masses of material be passed through a chamber or 'space where the drying or other treatment takes place in parallel paths and usually in superimposed relationship. This has been accomplished by placing separate masses of the material upon superimposed carrying elements, such as trays, and mounting these trays upon a rigid" frame which is given a 2 horizontal movement. While this arrangement has proved advantageous durin' drying or other treatment, it has create difliculty in loading the material upon the trays and in removing it therefrom. Owingto 2 the fact. that the trays of each carrier are 7 moved always in parallel paths, all the trays cannot be presented at a common loading station for mechanical loading, and it has, therefore, been necessary to fill each tray separately by. hand.

The present-invention remedies this difliculty in loading, while maintaining a full efficiency of the formerarrangement during the drying or other treatment. In accordance with the invention, this is accomplished by providing a number of individual carrying elements, such as trays, for moving them in single file past a loading station, so that they may conveniently 4.0 be loaded by mechanicalmeans, and then in multiple file through a treatmel1 t space so that the material thereon is positloned for eifective drying or other treatment. The movement of the carrying elements past the loadin station is most desirably more rapid than t eir movement with the treatment space, and the two rates of movements are so related that the individual carr g elements are spaced closely one behin another as they pass the loading station permitting the use of continuously operating loading means, while sets or groups of the elements are spaced closely one behind another during the movement through the treatment and mechanism space, so that the treatment may be effected 5 in the smallest practicable space.

A feature of the invention which is of great importance in carryin out the arrangeinent above mentioned, ut which also maybe used apart from that arrangement, consists in providing carriers having trays or other carrying elements mounted in such manner that, without removing the trays from the carriers, the trays may be placed either in superimposed or in edge-to-edge relation. In using such a carrier, the trays may easily be loaded edge-to-edge relation After the are loaded,

b placing them in or this purpose.-

the trays of the carrier may e placed in superimposed relation to facilitate subjecting the material on them to drying or other treatment.

While it is within the scope of the present invention, and isadvantageous for certain purposes, hand in order to move to manipulate such carriers by the trays which they contain from edge-to-edge to superimposed relation, and also to cause, by hand, such lateral movement of the carrier as may be necessary to transfer it from a loading stationto a treating chamber,

a feature of the invention consists in providing conveying mechanism for. such carriers, by means of which the carriers are moved past a loading station and to and through a treating chamber, while during the movement of-the carriers the trays of each carrier are automatis cally brought into edge-to-ed e relation when the carrier passes the} loa ing station and into superimposed relation before the carrier enters the treating chamber.

The nature of the invention may bestbe understood by a detailed description of anap aratus embodying it iii a complete and satisfactory form. .Such an apparatus is shown in the accompanying drawings, in

which the apparatus;

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of Fig. 2 is a top view of one of the carriers with its trays in an showing engaging elements 0 the conveying perim osed relation,

mechanism in horizontal section;

Fig. 3 is an intermediate horizontal section of one of the carriers with its trays in superimposed relation;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion 0 f one of the carriers,

showing the manner in which the trays are inserted in assembling the carrier;

Fig. is a rear elevation of one of the carriers with its trays in superimposed rela tion, showing the tracks and chain of the conveying mechanism in transverse section;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one of the carriers with its trays in superimposed relation, sectioned on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to. Fig. 6, showing 'oneof the carriers with its trays in' dumping v position;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 6 and 7, showing one of the carriers with its trays in loading position; and

Figs. 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views illustrat-ing automatic means for returning the carriers to their initial positions, Fig. 9 beis also hinged.

The carrying elements 20, in the form shown in the drawings, consist of trays 21 and channel irons 22, 22, in which the side edges of thetrays are seated. The channel irons 22, 22 are provided near their rear ends withrdepending .tabs 23. While the reference number 20 is used to designate all the carrylng elements, the uppermost of these carryingelements is specifically identified by the symbol 20.

The connecting member 30, in the form illustrated, is located at the front edges of the carrying elements and consists of two side bars 31', 31' having the form of angle irons and braces 33 extending between'the side bars 31, 31 and secured to the back. flange 34of each of them. In certain cases the braces 33 may be omitted and the side bars 31, 31 may be connected together only by the carrying elements.

Each of the carrying elements 20 is hinged to the connecting member 30 by two bolts 35, 35', wh1ch serve to secure the tabs 23, 2350f the channel irons 22, 22 to the side flanges 36 ofthe side bars 31, 31. It will be seen that this arrangement leaves each, carrying element 20 free to tip with respect to the connecting member 30, and that the 'lines about which the carrying elements tip (which are the axes of the pivot bolts 35, 35) are parallel, and spaced by a distance approximately equal to the length of a carrym element.

I eans are the carryin ways par-a1? provided for maintaining all elements 20 of the carrier alel to each other, while leaving in the other views.

them free to extend at different angles to the connecting member 30. In the form il-" lustrated, such means comprises a second connecting member 40 consisting of two side bars 41, 41 having the form of angle irons. The channel irons '22, 22'. of each of the fcarrying elements 20 are hinged to the side gether (as shown in Figs. 7 and 8). In the construction illustrated, therefore, the channel irons 22, 22 of the carrying elements 20 and the connecting members 30, 40 form a collapsible frame in whichthe trays 21 are carried. I I

Owing to the fact that the pivot bolts 35, v 35, by which each of the carrying elements 20 is secured to the connecting member 30, 0

are secured. to the tabs 23, 23', which extend downwardly from the carrying element, while the pivot bolts 45, 45' are secured directly to the channel irons of the carrying element, all the carrying elements of the carrier are brought into a common plane when the two connecting members 30, 40 are brought together as shown in Figs. -7 and 8. This arrangement isdesirable in dumping and also in loading certain mate rials. But it should be understood that by referring to placing the carrying elements in edge-to-edge relationship, I do not intend to describe only the placing of these carrying elements in a common plane, as sl1own;105 in Figs. 7 and 8, since an edge-to-edge arrangcment satisfactory for loading may be obtained when the carrying elements are not exactly co-planar. By an edge-to-edge relationship, therefore, I mean simply that one 1 edge of'each carrying element is brought into proximity to the opposite edge-of the next carrying element. I

The carrier which has been described may be supported in a variety of different ways. 11 I have found it most advantageous, however, to support the carrier by suspending it from an overhead track. I shall, therefore, describe means for supporting the carrier in this way, which means are a part of my invention. i i

In order that the carrier 10 may be suspended from above, it is provided with four tension bars 37, 37 47, 47', which are secured to the connecting members 30, 40 by means of the pivot bolts 35, 35', 45, 45', by which the uppermost carrying element 20 is hinged to the upper ends of,the side bars 31, 31' of the connecting member 30 and the side bars 41, 41 of the connecting member 40. The upper ends of the tension bars 37 i and 47 are secured together by a spacing bar 11, which is pivotally secured to them. A similar spaciig bar 11 connects the upper ends of the tmsion bars 37' and 47'.

At the upper ends of the tension bars 37, 37, 47, 47 arewlieels adapted to run on an overhead track 50. This track consists of two parallel rails 51, 51, each having the form of an angle iron. Wheels 38, 38 at the upper ends of the tensionbars 37 ,37,

are grooved to run on the vertical flange 52 of the rails, while wheels 48, 48' at the upper ends of the tension bars 47, 47 are flat and positioned so as to run upon the horizontal flanges 53 of the rails? When the wheels 38, 38', 48, 48' are placed on the rails 51-, 51', the uppermost carrying element 20 is suspended from the rails in horizontal position. The two connecting to the carrying element 20, but they normally hang vertically in spaced relationship so that all the carrying elements 20 are superimposed, as best seen in Fig.6 and in Fig. 1

at 1()= and 10 The carrier, thus supported,

may be moved along the rails by any desired means, and when so moved its carrying elements 20 are given an edgewise motion.

A feature of the invention consists in providing means'for bringing the carrying elements of the carrier into horizontal, edgeto-edge position when the carrier is moved along the rails'to a loading station L, and for returnin the carrying elements to superimposed position after the carrier has passed bythe loading station. The means for this purpose which is illustrated in Fig. 1, consists of a cam 60, whichprovides, in front of a loading station L, a surfacev 61 which is inclined toward the rails 51, 51 at the loading station L a surface 62 parallel to the rails 51, 51' and spaced from them at a distance only slightly greater than the length of the tension bars 37, 37', 47, 47 and beyond the loading station, a surface 63 inclined away from the rails 51, 51 to a distance as great as the entire length of the carrier. As a carrier 10 is moved along the rails 51, 51 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, the connecting member 30 of the carrier encounters the surface 61 and the cam 60 which causes it to tip forward to a greater. and greater extent. During this tipping of the connecting member 30 of the carrier, the carrying elements 20 remain horizontal r(see the carrier 10 in Fig. 1); and when the carrier reaches the surface 62 at the loading station L, the connecting member 30 is drawn into horizontal position, the connecting member 40 rests upon it, and the carrying elements 20 are brought into edge-to-edge relation (as best seen in Fig. 8 and in Fig. 1 at 10). Further movement of the earner brings the lower end of the connecting member 40 into contact with the surface 63 of the cam 60, so that the carrier is suspended from the lower end of this connecting member and from the tension bars 37, 37 47 47' (as seen at 10, in Fig. 1). The carrying elements 20 remain horizontal while the connecting members 30, 40 gradually reassume a vertical position as the lower end of member 4( moves down the surface 63 (see the carrier 10 in Fig. 1).

The carrying elements 20 are thus brought again into superimposed position, in whlch they may conveniently be subjected to any.

desired treatment.

To facilitate the movement of a carrier over the cam 60, the connecting members 30, 40 of the carrier may be provided at their lower ends with rollers 39, 39, 49, 49', and, if desired, additional rollers may be provided along the back connecting member 30.

Another feature of the invention consists in means for swinging each of the carrying elements of the carrier into substantially vertical position when the carrieris moved to a dumping station D and for swinging the carrying elements back into horizontal position as the carrier *leaves'the dumping station. These means, as illustratedin the drawings, include openings 54 in thehorizontal flanges 53 of the rails 51, 51, having their front ends at the point where these rails pass over the dumping stationD, and

cam surfaces 55 located beyond the dumping station D and extending 'uwardly to the horizontal flanges 53 of the rails 51, 51 at the rear ends of the openin s 54 from a distance as great as the lengt of the spacing bars 11, 11.

When the carrier is moved along the rails to the dumping station D, the wheels 48, 48 fall through the openings 54, permitting the connecting member 40 to swing down against the connecting member 30 so as to bring the carr ing elements 20 of the carrier into a vertical position (as best seen at 10 in Fig.- 1 and inFig. 7), so that the material on the.

carrying elements is dumped from them. Further movement of the carrier brings the wheels 48, 48' into contact with the cam surfaces 55 raisingthese wheels iand the connecting member 40 until-the wheels are again upon the horizontal flanges 53 of the rails 51, 51', and the carrying elements are again in horizontal, superimposed position. I

The movement of the carriers along the track 50 may be caused in any desired manner. For certain purposes,.and particularly in small installations, it is desirable that the carriers be moved by hand during all or a part of their travel. A feature of the invention consists, however, in providing automatic means for moving and spacing the carriers during all or a part of their travel. Automatic means for movingthe carriers into a loading station, from' the loading station to atreatment chamber, through the treatment chamber, and to a dumping station, are illustrated in the drawings. Over a portion of the rails 51, 51 are a pair of conveyer chains 70, 70 passing over pairs of pulleys or sprockets 71, 72, one or both of which is mechanically driven. The chains are provided with engaging means spaced at intervals approximately equal to the length of the connecting member plus the length of one of the carrying elements 40. The engaging means, in the form shown, consist .of pairs of projections. 74, those of each pair being inclined away from each other near their outer ends. The projections- 74 on the lower reach of the chain 70, 70, extend downwardly just outside the outer edges of the rails 51, 51.

I The rails 51, 51' have a downwardly in clined portion 56 ending under the sprocket wheels 71. A plurality of carriers may be supported upon the downwardly inclined portion 56 of the rails. The front one of these carriers is retained by a stop 75 in such position that the short stub shafts 76 projecting outwardly from the upper .endsof the tension bars 37, 37 of the carrier are 10 in Fig. '1). When 'a carrier'has thusengaged by a pair of the projections 74, when these projectionsyare brought to the bottom of the sprocket wheel 71 (see carrier been engaged it is drawn along the rails by the chains past the loading station L and to a point below the sprocket wheels 72 where it is released by the projections 74. As each carrier is thus drawn away from the inclined portion 56 of the rails, the next carrier on theinclined portion slides up against the stop 75, so that it is engaged by the next air of projections 64. As the carriers pass y the loading station, therefore, they are'spaced by a.d1stance.correspqnding to that between the pair ofprojections 74 on the chains 70, This spacing is such as to bring the front edge of the upper carrying element of one carrier into proximity to the rear edge of the lower carrying element of the preceding carrier, as the carriers pass by the loading station; In consequence, the carrying elements of the carriers may be loaded by' material flowing continuously from a hopper H positioned between the chains and the rails at thr loading station L.

As each carrier is brought to a position under the sprocket 72 it'pushes forward the carrier proviously released in this position through a distance substantially equal to the length of a carrying element. As a result, the-carriers are caused to move slowly in closely spaced relation through a treatment chamber C which surrounds the ortion of the track 50 beyond the sprocket 2.

It should be noted that in operation de-' scribed, the carrying elements of each carnor are moved one after another in a common path, i. e., in single file, at a relatively high speed as they pass the loading station L, and are'moved side by side in parallel paths, i. e., in multiple file, at a relatively low speed as they travel through the treatment chamber C. vidual trays of successive carriers provide a single continuous traveling platform at the loading station L, While the corresponding trays of successive carriers form a set of superimposed continuous traveling platforms in the treatment chamber C.

As each conveyr is pushed-out of the chamber C, it reaches a downwardly inclined portion '57 of the horizontal flanges 53 of the rails 51, 51. Its rear wheels slidedown this portion of the horizontal flanges bringing the carrier to the dumping station D, where its rear wheels fall into the openings 54 causing a dumping of the material in the carrier.

Furthermore, the indi- It will readily be understood that thetrack 50 may be extended to. form a closed 1 loop, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, so as to return the carriers from the dumping station to the inclined portion 56 of the rails in readiness to be picked up by the engag ing means 74: of the. chains 70. 70. If desired, means may be provided to cause an automatic return movement of the carriers, such as, for example, a conveyer 80 to carry them up an inclineSl in the track so that they may descend by gravity along an inclined returntnack 82. Or, if more convenient, the carriers may be returned from dumping position to their initial position by. pushing them manually in groups.

. I wish it clearly understood that the practical apparatus which has been described is merely an illustrativeembodiment of the invention, and that the invention is by no means limited to the form and arrangement of the parts of this apparatus, except in so far as is specified in the claims which follow.

It should be understood also that in these claims reference to an edge to edge relationship of the carrying elements is not limited to a co-planar arrangement, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, but includes any arrangement in which one edge of any carrying element 1s .brought into proximity with the opposite edge of the next carrying element, while reference to a superimposed rela tionship of the carrying elements is 'not limited to placing the carriers directly above each other, as shown, for-example, at 10 in Fig. 1, but includes any arrangement in which the carr ing elements of a carrier are located in di 'erent horizontal planes, as, for example, the arrangement shown at 1O in Fig. 1.

What I claim is:

1. An independent carrying unit, comprising more than two carrying elements, a rigid connecting member to which each of said carrying elements is hinged, and means ing two rigid connecting members and a plurality of trays, each of which is hinged to each of the. connecting members in such a manner thatgthe trays are maintained parallel to each other while their relative position may be varied.

3. An independent carrying unit, compris ing two rigid connecting members and a plurality of trays, each hinged to each of said connecting members, and wheels secured to the upper ends of each of the connecting members.

4. An independent carrying unit, comprising a collapsible frame and a plurality of carrying elements so hinged to said frame that they are superimposed when the frame is open and edge to edge when the frame-- is collapsed.

5. A carrier, comprising a plurality of carrying elements, two parallel connecting members, a hinge connection between each carrying element and one of said connecting members located below the supporting surface of the carrying element, and a hinge connection between each ,of said carrying elements and the other of said connecting members located above the supporting surface of the carrying element,'the length of each carrying element being such that when the two connecting members are brought adjacent to each other the carrying elements are extended edge to edge in a common plane.

6. A carrier, comprising a pluralit of carrying elements, two connecting mem ers, a hinge connection between each carrying element and one of said connecting members, and a hinge connection between each of said carrying elements and the other of said connecting members located above said first hinge connection, the length of each carrying element being such that when the two convnecting members are brought adjacent to each other the carrying elements are exteiided edge to edge substantially in a common plane. I

7 Apparatus forhandlin materials, comprising a horizontally mova' le upper carrying element, means for retaining said carrying element in horizontal position during such movement, a rigid connecting member hinged to said carrying element and free to tip into and out of a horizontal position during horizontal movement of said upper carrying element, a plurality of other carrying elements hinged to said connecting memher at spaced points thereof, and means for retaining said carrying elements arallel to the upper carrying element during tipping of the connecting member.

8. Apparatus for handling materials, com

prising a horizontally movable upper carrying element, means for retaining said carryin g element in horizontal position during such movement, two rigid connecting members having their upper ends hinged to said carrying element and free to tip into and out of a horizontal position during horizontal movement of said upper carrying ele- .ment, and a plurality of other carrying elements each hinged to each of said connecting members and parallel to the upper carrying element.

9. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising a horizontally movable carrier having a plurality of carrying elements and a mounting for said carrying elements permitting them to be placed either in superimposed or edge-to-edge relation, means operative on a horizontal movement of said carrier to position the carrying elements thereof in edge-to-edge relation, and means operative on a further horizontal movement of the carrir.,t o position said carrying elements in siiprimposed relation.

10. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising a horizontally movable carrier having aplurality of carrying elements and a mounting for said carrying elements permitting them to be placed either in superimposed or edge-to-edge relation, and means operative on a horizontal movement of said carrier to change the relative position of said carrying elements from edge-to-edge relation to superimposed relation.

11. In apparatus for handling materials, the combination with a movable carrier having a plurality of carrying elements, a connecting member to which each of said carrying elements is hinged, and means for retaining said carrying .elementshorizontal, of means operative on a horizontal movement of the carrier "for tipping said connecting member from a horizontal position in which the carrying elements are in edge-to-edge relation to a position in which the carrying elements are in superimposed relation.

12. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising a rail, a connecting member suspended from said rail and movable along th rail, a plurality of carrying elements hinged to said connecting member, means for retaining said carrying elements in horizontal osition, means operative on movement 0 the connecting member along the rail to raise the lower end of the connecting member tooperative on further movement of the connecting member along the rail to move the lower end of said frame away from the rail to place said carrying elements in superimposed relation.

13. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising a rail, a connecting member having one of its ends mounted on said rail so as to be movable along the rail, a plurality of carrying elements hinged to said connecting member, means for retaining said carrying elements in horizontal position, means operative to position said connecting member parallel to said rail to place the carrying elements in edge-to-edge relationship, and

means operative on movement of one end of the connecting member along the rail to increase the distance between the other end of the connecting member and the rail so as to move the carrying elements from edge-toedge to superimposed relation.

14. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising a rail, a carrier consisting ofan upper carrying element supported by said rail in horizontal position, a connecting member hinged to said carrying element so as to be free to tip with respect thereto, other carrying elements hinged to said connecting member, means for maintaining said other carrying elements parallel to said upper carrying element, and a cam. having a surface I inclined toward said rail and adapted to move the lower end of said connecting member toward said rail as the carrier is 1 moved along the rail, and a surface inclined mg members, one suspende away fromsaid rail adapted to permit the lower end of said connecting member to move away from said rail as the carrier is moved further along the raili 15. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising a rail, a carrier consisting of an upper carrying element rollably supported by said rail in horizontal pos1t1on, a connecting member hinged to said carrying element so as to be ree to tip with res ect thereto, other carryin elements hinge to said connecting mem er, and means for maintaining said other carrying elements parallel to said upper carrying element, and

a cam having a surface inclined way from said rail and adapted to permit the lower end of said connecting member to move away from said rail as the carrier 1s moved along the rail, r

16. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising a rail having two supporting surfaces, one of which is cut away at apolnt where the rail passes over a dumping station, wheels spaced longitudinally of the rail and positioned to travel on said supporting surfaces respectivel two connectfrom each of said wheels, and a plurality of parallel carrying elements each hinged to each of said connecting members.

17. In a paratus for handling materials, a carrier aving two connecting members and a plurality of carrying elements hinged to' or inparallelogram arrangement, m: of wheels of difierent gauges secured to the connecting members respectively, and tracks of diflerent gauges for said pairs or of the carrier, and having a gauge difierenti from that of the first two "pairs, a track for the first two pairs of wheels, a support-for the third pair of wheels, the distance between such support and the track determining the relation of the carrying elements of the carrier.

19. In apparatus for handling materials, av carrier having two connecting members and a plurality of carrying elements hinged together in parallelogram arrangement, pairs of wheels of difierent gauges secured to o posite ends of one of the connecting mem 'ers, a pair of wheels of a third gauge secured to one end of the other connecting member, and supports for the three pairs of wheels determining by their distances apart the position and relation of the carrying elements of the carrier.

20. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising. a carrier having a plurality of carrying elements and a mounting ,for said carrying elements gpermitting them to be placed either in superimposed or edge-to comprisln the combination with a loading statlonan a treatment space, of a plurality ofcarrying elements, means for causing an edgewise movement of said carrying elements past said loading station and through said space, and means or causing a relative movement between said carrying elements to move theinfrom superimposed relation to edge-to-edge relation as the approach the loading station and to move t em from edgeto-edge relation to superim sed relation as they leave the loading" station and before they enter the treatment space.

22; Apparatus 'for handling materials, comprisln the combination with a loading station an a treatment space, of means for causing edgewise movement of said carrying elements past said loading station and through said space, me'ansfor positioning said carrying elements in edge-to-edge'relai tion as t ey pass the. loading station, and means for causing a relative movement between said carrying elements to move them from edge-to-edge relation to superimposed relation after they leave the loading station and before they leave the treatment space.

23. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising the combination with a loading station and a treatment space, of aplurallty of carriers each havinga plurality of carrying elements and a mounting for said carrying elements permittingthem to be placed either in superimposed or edge-"to-edge relation, means for moving said carriers in succession past said loading station and through said space, means operative on the movement of the carriers 'to place the carrying elements of each carrier in edge-to edge relation before that carrier passes the loading station and to retain them in edgeto-edge relation While they pass by the loading station, and means operative on the movement of the carriers to place the carryin elements of each carrier in superimpose relation after said carrier has passed the loading station.

24t- Apparatus for handling materials,

comprising a plurality of carriers each having a plurality oil carrying elements and a mounting for said carrying elements permitting them to be placed either in superim- J posed or edge-to-edge relation, means for moving said carriers in succession past a loading station, through a treatment cham her, and to a dumping station, means operable to position the carrying elements of each carrier in horizontal edge-to-edge position as said carrier reaches the loading station, means operable to position the carrying elements of each carrier in superimposed relationship as said carrier moves from the loading station to the treatment chamber, and means operable to position said carrying elements in vertical edge-toedge position when said carrier reaches the dumping station 25. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising a plurality of carriers each having a plurality of carrying elements and a mounting for said elements permitting them to be placed either in superimposed or edgeto-edge relation, means for guidin the carriers past a loading station throng a treatment space and past a dumping. station, means for spacing the carriers a art at the dumping station and retaining t m closely spaced one behind another at the loading station and in the ,treatment'space, means operable to place the carrying elements of each carrier in edge-to-edge relation in a horizontal plane before the carrier reaches the loading station, means operative to place the carrying elements of each'carrier in superimposed relation in horizontal planes as the carrier leaves the loading station, means operative to tip up the carrying elements'of each carrier as the carrier reaches the dump-.

ing station, and means operative to replace receiving the material at the placed either in superimposed or in edge-toedge relation, means for moving said carriers in succession ast said loading stat-ion at a relatively higli speed and for moving said carriers in succession through said treating space at a relatively-low speed, and means operative on the movement of the carriers to place the carrying elements of each carrier in superimposed relation as said carrier moves from the loading station into the treatment space.

27. Apparatus forhandling materials, comprising the combination .with a loading station, of a plurality of carriers each having a plurality of carrying elements and a mountmgfor said carrying elements permitting them to be placed either in superimposed or edge-to-edge relation, means operative on the movement of each carrier to the loading station to place these carrying elements in edge-to-edge relation, means operative on the movement of each carrier. from the loading station to place these carrying elements in superimposed relation, means for moving said carriers past the loading station arranged to space said carriers by a distance such that the back edge of the lowestcarrying element of one carrier is adjacent to the front edge of the upper carrying element of the succeeding carrier as the carriers pass the loading station, and means at the loading station for continuously discharging material upon the carrying elements of the carriers.

28. Apparatus for handling materials, comprismg the combination with a treatment space and a loading station, of a sin le continuous rapidly. traveling platform or oading station, a plurality of superimposed continuous slowly 'traveling platforms for the material in the treatment space, and automatic means for repeatedly removing a plnralit of short sections from the advancing end 0 the platform at the loading station and applying said sections individually to the receding ends of the platforms in the treatment space.

29. Apparatus for handling materials,

comprising the combination with a loading station and a treatment space, of a plurality of open carrying elements, and auto- -matic means for moving said earryin elefor loading material to be treated on said carrying elements in. succession as theypass by the loading station.

' 30. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising the combination with a treatment space, of a loading device continu ously discharging material to be treated, and a plurality of trays, and automatic means for moving said trays past the loading station in single file at a relatively high speed so that'they are successively loaded with material discharged by saidloading device and then through the treatment space station an station and in multiple file at a relatively low speed.

31. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising the combination with a loading station and a treatment space, of a plurality of carrying elements connected together in sets, and automatic means for moving the carrying elements of each set one behind another in a common path past the loading station and then in parallel paths through the treatment space in close proximity to the carrying elements of the preceding set.

32. Apparatus for handling materials, comprisin the combination with a loading a treatment space, of a plurality of carrying elements connected together in sets, and automatic means for moving the carrying elements of each set one behind another in a common path past the loading station and then in spaced horizontal planes through the treatment space in close proximity to the carrying elements of the preceding set.

33. Apparatus for handling materials, comprisin r the combination with a loading a treatment space, of a plurality of carriers eachfirovided with a plurality of carrying'elements, andautomatic means for moving each carrier past the loading station with its carrying elements following one after another in a common path and :then through the treatment space with its carrying elements moving in parallel paths and in close proximity to the carrying elements of the preceding carrier.

34. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising the combination of a plurality of individual carrying elements, and automatic means for moving said elements'in paths which coincide at a station where the elements are loaded with material to be. treated and then diverge and extend in parallel spaced relation through a treatment space and at speeds which are relatively where the paths are coincident and relatively small where the aths are arallel.

"35. Apparatus or hand i'ng materials,

comprising the combination of a plurality of individual carrying elements, and means for uiding said elements in closed circuits whic coincide at one point and are spaced apart at other points and at speeds which great are relatively great where the circuits are coincident, and relatively small where the circuits, are spaced apart.

36. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising the combination with a loading station, a treatment space and a dumping station, ofa plurality of carrying elements,

and means for-moving said carrying elesaid carrying elements in a closed circuit in part of whlch the carrying elements are guided in single file, and in another part of which they are guided in multiple file.

38. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising the combination of a plurality of carrying elements, means for guiding said carrying elements in a closed circuit in part of which the carrying elements are guided in single file, and in another part of which they are guided in multiple tile, a loading device located adjacent to the part of the circuit in which the carrying elements are in single file, and means for removing material from the carrying elements before they reach the loading device.

39. Apparatus for handling materials, comprising the combination with a treatment space and a loading station, of superimposed continuous traveling platforms. for the material in the treatment space, and means for repeatedly removing short sections from the advancing ends of all said platforms, moving said sections in single file past the loadin station, and returning each of them to the receding end of the platform from which it was taken.

40. Apparatus for handling materials,

ment space and a loading station, of a single continuous rapidly travelin platform for receiving the material at the loading station, a plurality of superimposed continuous slowly traveling platforms for the material in the treatment space, means for repeatedlfy removin a pluralit of short sections om the a vancing en of the platform at the loading station and applying such sections individually to the receding ends of the platforms in the treatment space,'and means for repeatedly removing a short section from the advancing end of each platform in the treatment space and applying such sections collectivel to the receding end of the platform at the oading station.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 

